Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott had only 12 carries for 33 yards in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State. The dearth of action prompted him to say he won’t return for his senior season. Jay LaPreteAP

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott had only 12 carries for 33 yards in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State. The dearth of action prompted him to say he won’t return for his senior season. Jay LaPreteAP

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4Anticipating losses by Florida and North Carolina in their championship games, if not sooner, a one-loss Big 12 team would also seem to need a Stanford victory over Notre Dame. What it doesn’t need is a Michigan State loss to Penn State, opening the door once again to Ohio State. Been there, done that.

5Ohio State, though, seems as if it’s coming apart at the seams. Ezekiel Elliott, while panning the play-calling in the loss to Michigan State, appeared to be the first underclassman to declare for the NFL Draft in a statement indicating he couldn’t wait to get out of Columbus: “Honestly, this is my last game in the Shoe. I mean, there’s no chance of me coming back next year.”